Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Malaysia

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The information on this page should be used as part of a comprehensive pre-travel health consultation. Ideally this should be scheduled at least six weeks prior to travel. All travellers should have adequate travel health insurance.

General Health Risks

Some health risks apply to travellers to all countries. Please see below for a list of important health information sheets. A full list of information sheets is available through the Health Information Sheets link on the left hand side of the page.

Yellow Fever

Administration of yellow fever vaccine should take into account both the certificate requirements under International Health Regulations and the risk of yellow fever at the destination. The lack of a certificate requirement does not necessarily indicate that there is no risk of disease.

disease_yf_inf1_10yrs.htm

YELLOW FEVER

Yellow fever is a systemic viral disease.

Risk assessment

There is no risk of yellow fever in this country, however, there is a certificate requirement.

Certificate requirements

Under International Health Regulations (2005), a yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over 1 year of age arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission and for travellers having transited for more than 12 hours through the airport of a country with risk of yellow fever transmission.

Risk management

Travellers should avoid contact with blood or bodily fluids. Where contact is unavoidable, appropriate protective precautions should be taken.

A sterile medical kit should be carried.

Vaccination should be considered for all adult and child travellers.

Vaccination is recommended for travellers at higher risk of exposure including those who:

- may have unprotected sex

- may be directly exposed to blood or blood products through their occupation, such as healthcare professionals

- are participating in contact sports

- may be exposed to contaminated needles through injecting drug use, or as a result of accessing medical or dental care e.g. those with pre-existing medical conditions and those travelling for medical care

ExposureInformation on the mode of transmission and factors that may increase disease risk - JE virus is transmitted to humans from animals (mainly pigs) and birds via the bite of an infected Culex mosquito. Culex mosquitoes feed predominantly during the hours from dusk to dawn. Short-term travellers and those who restrict their visits to urban areas are at very low risk. Those at higher risk are travellers who visit or work in rural agricultural areas such as rice fields and marshland. Long-term travellers and expatriates are also at higher risk.

Risk management

Travellers should take mosquito bite avoidance measures. Culex mosquitoes feed predominantly during the hours from dusk to dawn.

Risk management

The pre-travel visit is an opportunity to ensure that individuals in defined risk categories are vaccinated with BCG according to current UK guidance. For further details see the Department of Health Immunisation against infectious disease (The Green Book).

Travellers should avoid close contact with individuals known to have infectious pulmonary TB.

BCG vaccine should be considered for unvaccinated, tuberculin skin test negative children from 6 to under 16 years of age, who are going to live for more than 3 months in this country.

BCG vaccine should be considered for unvaccinated children younger than 6 years of age, who are going to live for more than 3 months in this country. These children will usually not need a tuberculin skin test prior to vaccination.

Healthcare workers should take appropriate infection control precautions. BCG vaccine should be considered for previously unvaccinated, tuberculin skin test negative health care workers younger than 35 years of age. This recommendation is irrespective of duration of stay.

There are specific contraindications and adverse events associated with BCG vaccine. A careful risk assessment should be made before administration and specialist advice sought as appropriate.

Travellers who are in the risk groups described and who do not receive BCG vaccine should be considered for pre-travel and post-travel testing for exposure to tuberculosis.

Travellers who suspect that they may have been exposed to tuberculosis should receive an appropriate medical evaluation.

Non-Vaccine Preventable Risks

This section details infectious disease risks for which there are no vaccines as well as some non-infectious disease risks. This is not an exhaustive list. Further information about infectious and non-infectious disease risks can be found on the NaTHNaC Health Information Sheets. Travellers should be aware that accidents and injuries are a cause of serious illness during travel.

Risk management

Awareness of risk - Risk depends on the specific location, season of travel, length of stay, activities and type of accommodation. Those at higher risk of malaria, or of severe complications from malaria, include pregnant women, infants and young children, the elderly, and those visiting friends and relatives.

Chloroquine resistance is present in peninsular Malaysia. The recommended chemoprophylaxis for the inland forested areas is
mefloquine, doxycycline or atovaquone/proguanil.

Chemoprophylaxis is not recommended for the rest of peninsular Malaysia, however, travellers should be aware of the small risk of malaria.

Diagnosis - Travellers who develop a fever of 38°C [100°F] or higher more than one week after being in a malaria risk area, or who develop any symptoms suggestive of malaria within a year of return should seek immediate medical care.

ALTITUDE

There is a point of elevation in this country higher than 2,500 metres (m).

Risk assessment

Travel to destinations of 2,500-3,500 m (8,200-11,500 feet) or higher carries the risk of altitude illness. Important risk factors for altitude illness are the altitude gained, rate of ascent and sleeping altitude. Rapid ascent without a period of acclimatisation puts a traveller at higher risk.

Risk management

The most important prevention measure is adequate acclimatisation.

Travellers should spend a few days at an intermediate altitude below 3,000 m.

Ascent above 3,000 m should be gradual with no more than a 300 - 500 m increase in sleeping altitude per day, with a rest day every three days.

Acetazolamide is recognised for use in the prevention of altitude illness. It should not replace acclimatisation and gradual ascent.

Travellers who develop symptoms of altitude illness (headache, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea and sleep disturbance) should avoid further ascent. In the absence of improvement or with progression of symptoms the first response should be to descend.

Resources

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Disclaimer

The travel health information contained in these pages is intended for health professionals who assess a patients travel health needs. This document is not a complete medical guide for travellers and as such travellers using this site should consult with a health professional for specific information related to your travel and medical history. While every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy and timeliness of the travel health information, NaTHNaC cannot accept any liability for injury, loss or damage arising in any respect of any statement contained therein.

For the purpose of these web pages the term "country" covers countries, territories and areas. Areas within a country may be shown separately where it is felt necessary in order to provide travel health information.